lidar

American  

[lahy-dahr] / ˈlaɪ dɑr /

Or LIDAR

noun

Electronics, Optics.

1. a device similar to radar in principle and operation but using infrared laser light instead of radio waves and capable of detecting particles, distant objects, and varying physical conditions in the atmosphere.

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lidar Scientific  

/ lī′där /

1. A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of pulsed laser light reflected from their surfaces. Lidar operates on the same principles as radar and sonar.

2. The equipment used in such detection.

3. See also Doppler effect radar sonar

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Etymology

Origin of lidar

1960–65; li(ght ¹ ) + (ra)dar

Example Sentences

Chen reckons the move is an advantage as competition in lidar, or light detection and ranging, focuses increasingly on chip-level innovation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most competitors use an approach that relies on a mix of sensors and light detection and ranging, or lidar, to map environments.

From MarketWatch

Despite the debate over Lidar’s necessity, rapid performance improvements and falling costs are accelerating lidar adoption, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most companies working on autonomous vehicles rely on an expensive mix of sensors, cameras and light detection and ranging, or lidar, sensors to map out environments, which they argue is necessary to ensure safety.

From MarketWatch

Waymo vehicles are built with a type of laser radar called lidar, as well as cameras, sonar and GPS.

From Los Angeles Times